The World Mission Council of the Church of Scotland offered us the names and profiles of three very different churches – one in Taipei, Taiwan, one in Jamaica and the third in Lusaka, Zambia (previously known as Northern Rhodesia). All had expressed an interest in twinning and completed their congregational profile. After much discussion it was agreed to get in touch with St Andrew’s Church, Lusaka to see what we had in common and what we might learn from each other.

In coming to this decision we took into account language (unashamedly preferring to communicate in English), a country where we knew Scots missionaries had once worked, somewhere near enough that some of us might visit but certainly not a “sunbathe on the beach“ destination. In the end it was probably prayer that most influenced our decision!

We exchanged profiles and immediately felt very small and almost inactive compared with St Andrew's Church.

They have nearly 1000 members compared to our roughly 400, hundreds of children in Sunday School, four bands and choirs to lead worship, Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades, elders trained to lead worship, visit homes, hospitals and prisons and, on occasion, preach.

With much excitement and some apprehension we prepared to welcome our first visitors from Lusaka.